So, there's not much of Shadow in this chapter at all, but his brothers make some important decisions. There is also some set up for things that are going to happen in future chapters. Guess we'll have to see how it all plays out.

Raphael and Donatello watched as Shadow bundled up the sleeping Michelangelo and headed upstairs. Something told the red-masked turtle Shadow was going to be putting his new cuddling skills into practice to help his young charge tonight. And since Shadow had Michelangelo well in hand, it fell on him to take care of Donatello. His brainy brother hadn't said anything, and fortunately their new brother didn't know him well enough yet to pick up on it, but Raphael could tell something had been on his mind for a while now. He was trying to figure out the best way to approach the subject, when Donatello took matters into his own hands.

"Raphael, do you remember our discussion the morning after we brought Shadow home, about who you said he was?"

"Not likely to forget it," Raphael said. "You shot me down pretty thoroughly."

"Will, I'm giving you permission to say 'I told you so,' because I think I've changed my mind," Donatello told him.

Raphael just settled a little further back in his chair and asked, "What made you change your mind?"

Donatello sighed heavily. "That's just it," he said. "I have no empirical proof, just a few anecdotal incidents, and the gut feeling that he's really Leo. I mean, you saw him today. And it wasn't just him diving into the water after Michelangelo; it was the way he took charge and looked after all of us when it was clear we weren't thinking straight. Shell, I almost called him Leo once or twice."

"Yeah, if I hadn't been sure before, today would have clenched it for me, too," Raphael admitted. "I mean, you caught my 'fearless leader' slip."

"Fortunately Michelangelo was too out of it to notice, and Shadow was too hurt and shocked to pay too much attention," Donatello commented.

"Still, I appreciate you covering for me, both in regards to the comment itself, and Shadow's response to it," Raphael said. "Last thing I want to do is drive him away because of my hot head."

"You're welcome," Donatello replied. "Now, we need to figure out what we're going to do about this whole Leo/Shadow thing."

"What are you talking about," Raphael asked. "I'm not sure what there is to do, other than leave it alone and let it work itself out. We could do a lot of harm pushing Leo to remember before he's ready, not to mention we still have Michelangelo to deal with. We have no idea how he's going to react."

"And what if Shadow doesn't start remembering on his own," Donatello argued.

"I think he already has. And if not, we just get to know our new brother," Raphael growled. No one wants Leo back more than me. He was your big brother, but he was my twin! With him gone, it's been like I've been unable to breath for the last ten years. I haven't been missing just a brother, but the other half of my heart and soul. Master Splinter always said we were two halves of the same whole, so I've been living only half a life since we lost him."

Driven to his feet by the outpouring of emotions, Raphael had started pacing around the small kitchen. He was brought to a standstill by Donatello's quiet, "And then Shadow showed up."

"And then Shadow showed up," Raphael agreed as he dropped heavily back into his chair. "I think I knew on a subconscious level who he was, even before I found that scar on his ankle, because I felt whole for the first time in ten years. Donatello, I can't lose him again. Leo or Shadow, I don't care which; I'm not going to risk losing him over this."

"Okay," Donatello conceded softly. "We'll do it your way. I don't want to lose him either."

Raphael ran a weary hand over his face and cursed under his breath. "You had something in mind when you started this conversation. If it's something that will help Leo come back, we might as well discuss it. He's your brother too, after all."

"Well, working with Shadow on learning, or re-learning, how to write made me think. Remember how Leo used to sketch whenever he'd get stressed, or he just needed an outlet for his emotions."

"Sure," Raphael said. "I managed to save a couple of his pieces when Father stripped all reminders of him from the Lair."

"Me too," Donatello confided. "Anyway, I was thinking or suggesting to Shadow that he give it a try. It has a practical application, in that it would help strengthen his fine motor control, and give him another way to express himself and explore his individuality. I imagine it must get frustrating to be so limited in how and to whom he can express himself."

"I think it's worth a try," Raphael said. "And maybe we can come up with some other way to all him to communicate with you and Mikey."

Donatello abruptly went completely still.

"What? Are you okay," Raphael asked in concern.

"You…you just called him Mikey instead of Michelangelo," Donatello whispered. "You, we, haven't used our nicknames since we lost Leo."

"I don't know about you, but until now, I couldn't," Raphael said. "Raph, and I think Mikey and Donny, died when Leo did. And now that he's back…"

"It's like a rebirth," Donatello agreed. "We're not completely there yet, and we'll probably face a few more birthing pains, but I think we'll get there."

TMNT

The next morning everyone was glad it was Sunday, because that meant no practice, though Shadow did have his writing lesson with Donatello. He was determined to learn, and so the genius turtle agreed to do seven days a week. Today that meant he could also introduce the idea of sketching without it seeming odd.

While Donatello and Shadow were enmeshed in their lesson at the kitchen table, Raphael took the chance to check on his little brother.

"How are you feeling this morning," he asked Michelangelo when the youngest turtle settled on the couch next to him.

"Better," Michelangelo said. "No nightmares. Actually, that was the best night's sleep I've had in a very long time. I'm a bit surprised, given what happened yesterday."

"You want to talk about it," Raphael asked. "Yesterday, I mean. Or even what occurred ten years ago. Shadow was right; we only hurt ourselves by not talking about it all these years."

"Thanks," Michelangelo said sincerely. "I'm good. Shadow really helped, and I think I'm finally through the worst of it. But what about you? Do you need to talk?"

Raphael looked toward the kitchen where the writing lesson was in progress. "Thanks," he said with a grin, "but I think I'll follow your lead and give our new brother a chance to work his magic."

The pair sat in comfortable silence for a long moment. The quiet was finally broken when Michelangelo said, "There's something I want to ask you, and I need you to listen, okay?" He paused before saying, "Do you think Shadow could be Leo?"

Raphael felt his breath catch in his throat. He and Donatello had been worried about how their little brother would respond when he found out, and here he'd come to the conclusion on his own!

Trying to play it cool, Raphael calmly asked, "What makes you think he is?"

"You didn't deny it, so you've been thinking it too," Michelangelo concluded exultantly. "And it's been several things that got me to thinking about it. Little things, like how he moves around you. You and Leo always moved like you instinctively knew where the other was, and where he was going to be. Maybe it was part of being twins. When I was little, though, I used to think it was one of your superpowers. Donny and I might get in each other's way, but you two never did. You and Shadow do the same thing now. There's also the hand thing. Leo's the only one who ever held my hand like that; he also did the neck-squeeze thing with Donatello. Leo never did that with anyone else."

"Those are all good points," Raphael started to say, but his brother cut him off.

"That's not what convinced me, though."

"Okay, I'll bite," Raphael said. "What finally convinced you he is Leo?"

"Last night, after he talked me through the trauma of what happened, and kinda-sorta used a little hypno-therapy to help me deal with it, I was almost asleep. You know how I get at that point; my mouth runs away from my brain, and I'll say whatever I'm thinking."

"Yeah," Raphael drawled, this his heart was pounding wildly in his chest. This was going to be important; he could feel it.

"So, I said to him 'Love you, Leo,' and something about being glad he is back," Michelangelo said. "The thing is, he didn't deny, not even emotionally. He just said 'I love you too, baby brother.'"

"You were half-asleep," Raphael pointed out, although he wanted to turn cartwheels. Leo was starting to emerge from wherever he'd been hidden by what had been done to him. "Are you sure you didn't dream it?"

"I don't have good dreams; I have nightmares," Michelangelo retorted. "I'm certain it happened."

That was a relief to Raphael, because it meant his little brother truly was on his way to being healed. It also meant he could fill him in on what he and Donatello were thinking. "Then you'll be pleased to learn Donatello and I have come to the same conclusion," he said. "For very similar reasons."

"So are we gonna ask him about it," Michelangelo asked. "I mean, if he knows he's our brother, why hasn't he said anything?"

"I don't think he's known for very long," Raphael said. "And I'm not sure how much he actually remembers."

"We could tell him," Michelangelo suggested.

"And maybe really harm him in the process," Raphael countered. "Believe me; no one wants Leo back worse than I do. But I will live with Shadow in his place if that's what I have to do to keep him safe."

"But there's got to be something we can do," Michelangelo said plaintively.

"I think it's time we lifted Sensei's ban on talking about Leo," Raphael said. "We may not be able to directly confront Shadow about who he is or what he knows, but maybe we can encourage him and jog his memory by sharing ours. Donatello is also suggesting Shadow try his hand at sketching; maybe that will loosen things up a bit as well."

Again, silence fell between the two, and again it was Michelangelo who broke it.

"Why do you think Sensei tried so hard to get rid of any trace of Leo? He emptied his room, locked away all of his stuff, and refused to say his name. He'd get so upset anytime any of us mentioned Leo; it just became habit not to say anything."

"I don't know," Raphael admitted. "It bothered me when I was little, and as I got older I just figured it was his way of grieving."

"Wonder how he's going to react when he finds out Leo is back," Michelangelo said.

"I'm sure he'll be thrilled," Raphael said. "After all, sons don't return from the dead every day. Why wouldn't he be happy to have Leo back?"

So, I'm trying to figure out Splinter's role in this whole thing. I can't decide whether to make him a good guy, a bad guy, or just someone who made a stupid mistake. Hopefully by the time he finally makes his appearance I'll have figured it out.